Announcing Launch of WeProsper: Global Coalition to Advance Women’s Economic Empowerment, Justice & Rights
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 14, 2022
Contact: Joe Shaffner, Senior Communications Manager, International Center for Research on Women (ICRW), [email protected]
WeProsper, a new global coalition that engages in strategic advocacy to advance women’s economic empowerment, justice, and rights, is set to launch on Thursday 17 March 2022, during a parallel event at NGO CSW66, the leading forum for civil society organizations at the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW).
The virtual event titled ‘Launching Collective Global Action for Meaningful Change in Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE)’ will take place between 8–9:30 a.m. (EDT) and will formally introduce the new coalition through remarks by the coalition’s steering committee, members, and policymakers. Members of the over 35 member coalition steering committee will introduce the mission, vision, and goals of WeProsper, alongside a keynote with high-level government officials and a panel discussion with coalition representatives to highlight key structural WEE issues and evidence around which WeProsper will be focusing its collective advocacy and action.
WeProsper steering committee member Kelsey Harris, Senior Global Policy Advocate at the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW) said, “COVID-19 has reversed hard-fought gains in many aspects of women’s economic empowerment (WEE), making now a critical time for collective action. We believe that addressing structural economic and social issues is at the root of ensuring justice, rights, and empowerment for women and girls, in all their diversity. We are thrilled to announce WeProsper to work towards this mission.”
Speakers include María Jesús Conde Zabala, Ambassador At-Large for Feminist Foreign Policy, Government of Spain; Cristopher Ballinas Valdés, Director General for Human Rights and Democracy, Government of Mexico; Ulrika Grandin, Deputy Director, Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Government of Sweden; Wangari Kinoti, Women’s Rights and Feminist Alternatives Thematic Lead at ActionAid International; Kelsey Harris, Senior Global Policy Advocate at the International Center for Research on Women; Fridah Githuku, Executive Director at GROOTS Kenya; Professor Judith Waudo, Hub Leader at Kenyatta University WEE Hub; Paromita Sen, Research Manager at SEWA Bharat; and Shirley Pryce, President of the Jamaica Household Workers Union. The discussion will be moderated by Ritu Sharma, Vice President of US Programs and Policy Advocacy at CARE.
WeProsper has been formed to build the evidence base using a feminist and intersectional approach, address structural barriers, and drive more results-focused policy change. “Economic justice is at the heart of women’s empowerment globally, as it both empowers and equips women with the tools to sustain their empowerment and remain independent – and as agents of change,” says Paromita Sen, Research Manager at SEWA Bharat. “WeProsper centers economic justice, while considering that economic justice must work and evolve in parallel to climate justice, violence, informality, disaster resilience, and care work, to name a few. This consideration of multiple issues and recognition that they are all interconnected is critical to our abilities to forge ahead – and to bring all communities with us. It is in this holistic understanding of economic justice that we see the value of a feminist intersectional approach.”
The coalition currently has over 35 members from across the globe, including regional and global civil society organizations, international non-governmental organizations, grassroots organizations, women-led and feminist groups, academic institutions, and the private sector, who collectively advocate for change. Together, the coalition will work with governments and policymakers to address structural barriers and enable women and girls to achieve their full potential, develop skills, gain access to resources, and be fully engaged in decision-making that impacts them and their families.
WeProsper steering committee member Ritu Sharma, Vice President of US Programs and Policy Advocacy at CARE, said, “WeProsper is unique because it is not dominated by people or organisations from wealthy countries who speak on behalf of women and girls… around the table we have experts, researchers, advocacy experts and analysts from developing countries who know what needs to be done on the ground and who need the solidarity of advocates from developed, wealthy countries to help them.“
Register to attend the virtual event via this link, or find out more by visiting the WeProsper website via this link.
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Media enquiries
Joseph Shaffner, Senior Communications Manager at International Center for Research on Women.
Email: [email protected]
About WeProsper
WeProsper is a global coalition that engages in strategic advocacy to advance women’s economic empowerment, justice, and rights by simultaneously challenging existing power structures and systems while amplifying the voice and agency of women and girls as economic actors.
We are continually growing our global evidence base – comprising both rigorous research and lived experience – to best inform policy change that advances women’s economic empowerment. We believe that women’s economic empowerment, justice, and rights can only be achieved by addressing the structural barriers that prevent women and girls from achieving economic equality.
WeProsper has over 35 members from across the globe, including regional and global civil society organizations, international non-governmental organizations, grassroots organizations, women-led and feminist groups, academic institutions, and the private sector, who collectively advocate for change.
Together, we work with governments and policymakers to address structural barriers and enable women and girls to achieve their full potential, develop skills, gain access to resources, and be fully engaged in decision-making that impacts them and their families.
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